The event took place at Shibe Park during the stadium’s inaugural season as Ty Cobb and the visiting Detroit Tigers led by Hughie Hennings faced off against Connie Mack’s Philadelphia Athletics. The 1909 season was winding down and the fight for first place in the American League had reached a critical juncture. Weeks earlier Ty Cobb had spiked Athletics third baseman Frank Baker on the base paths creating friction and causing Athletics Manager Connie Mack to call Cobb out publicly for his style of play. In the top of the fourth inning with Eddie Plank on the mound, Cobb would spike A’s shortstop Jack Barry while sliding into second base, forcing Connie Mack to replace the injured Barry with Stuffy McInnis. While the Tigers would strike for two more runs in the top of the sixth to bring the game closer at 4-3, the Athletics would emerge victorious with a final score of 4-3 with Cobb striking out swinging to end the top of the 8th inning. However, it was the Detroit Tigers that would capture the American League pennant in 1909. They would go on to face Honus Wagner and the Pittsburgh Pirates, losing in seven games. All was not lost for the Athletics despite failing to capture the American League pennant in 1909, as they would go on to become back to back World Series Champions the following two seasons (1910 & 1911).

Here we are presented with an official Shibe Park Philadelphia Athletics scorecard with pre-printed lineup cards reading quite similarly to a T206 checklist for the Tigers and A’s clubs (see names below). There are some fascinating players present including some who were mysteriously omitted from the T206 Collection such as Jack Coombs (1910 Season: 31-9 W-L; 1.30 ERA; 13 Shutouts; 224 K; 28-12 W-L in 1911). The scoreline has been beautifully kept, the date of the game notated, and perhaps most interestingly a very specific notation that Barry was spiked by Cobb in the top of the fourth inning and subsequently replaced by Stuffy McInnis. This is a beautiful piece of baseball history.